Karzai: US Troop Drawdown Puts
Afghanistan on Path to Defending Itself
Afghanistan on Path to Defending Itself
VOA News http://www.aopnews.com/today.html
June 23, 2011
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has welcomed his U.S. counterpart's announcement of the start of a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, calling it a “good” step that puts the Afghan people on the path to defending their homeland.
Mr. Karzai said Thursday it is time for the “youth” of Afghanistan to take responsibility for security in the country. But he also said Afghan security forces “must be strengthened” as international troops begin to leave.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday he has decided to withdraw 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, with that figure rising to 33,000 troops by the end of 2012.
The United States currently has about 100,000 military personnel in the country, fighting a near decade-long war against Taliban insurgents that has become increasingly unpopular with the American public.
Afghan President Karzai said the U.S. decision to begin the troop pullout is the “right decision for the interest of both countries.”
A Taliban statement released Thursday dismissed Mr. Obama's decision as merely “symbolic” and called for the “immediate” and “full” withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan. The Islamist militant group also vowed to intensify its “armed struggle” until that happens.
Afghan citizens had mixed feelings about the U.S. move. Some hoped it will reduce violence that they blame on the presence of foreign troops in the country. Others worried it could plunge Afghanistan into chaos if Afghan security forces are unable to fill the vacuum created by the departure of international force.
Obama Focuses on Afghanistan
During Exclusive VOA Interview
VOA News. http://www.aopnews.com/today.htmlDuring Exclusive VOA Interview
June 23, 2011
André de Nesnera | The White House
President Barack Obama has discussed the current situation in Afghanistan in an interview with the Voice of America.
The president says his decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan does not mean the U.S. is abandoning that country.
"Keep in mind that we're talking about 10,000 troops by the end of this year, an additional 23,000 by the end of next summer - and we'll still have 68,000 troops there, in addition to the coalition partner troops," President Obama said. "So there is still going to be a substantial presence. But what it does signal is that Afghans are slowly taking more and more responsibility."
Phased transition
The president says his decision is consistent with what he called a phased transition process.
"Already there are Afghans out there every day who are fighting the fight, Afghans who are dying on behalf of their country, and their freedom, and their dignity," he noted. "And what we want to make sure of is that we continue to be a good partner with that process, but also want to send a signal to the Afghan people: this is your country ultimately and you are going to have responsibilities."
Common ground
In recent months, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been critical of the United States. But President Obama says overall, he shares the same goals.
"Obviously, there are going to be tensions in a difficult environment where we have a large number of foreign troops inside a country," Obama said. "It is true that there have been times where the tactics on the ground, day to day, result in tensions. But overall, his interest in making sure that Afghanistan is not a safe haven for terrorists, that there is an adherence to the Afghan constitution. Those commitments that he's made are the ones that are entirely consistent with what I see as U.S. interests."
Peace prospects
President Obama emphasized that there has to be a political settlement to bring about genuine peace in the region.
"But the terms of that political settlement are important, and we've been very clear in our criteria," he stressed. "We will encourage the Afghans, and we ourselves will talk to anybody. But they are going to have to break ties with al-Qaida, they are going to have to pledge to abide by the Afghan constitution and they will have to cease violence as a means of bringing about political power. If they take those steps, then I think there is a strong possibility of creating the kind of political settlement that would finally give Afghans relief from 30 years of war."
Pakistan
As for relations between the United States and Pakistan, Obama says that relationship has become more honest over time.
"That raises some differences that are real," the president said. "Obviously, the operation to take out Osama bin Laden created additional tensions, but I had always been very clear to Pakistan that if we ever found him [bin Laden] and had a shot, that we would take it."
President Obama says "Pakistan not only has a responsibility but also a deep interest in dealing with terrorist elements that are still in their territory."
See video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK5W9zjuBWk
Taliban downplay Obama's decision on troops
drawdown, call for complete withdrawal
drawdown, call for complete withdrawal
"Obama and his war mongers want to deceive their nation and with this announcement, while in reality, they have no respect for their nation's demands of waiting to bring this war and occupation to an end nor do they want to fulfill their promise," the statement sent to media added.
In the statement written in Pashtu language, spoken largely among the Taliban fighters, and English, the Taliban outfit vowed to continue armed struggle till the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama announced in Washington Wednesday night that 10,000 U.S. troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of this year and another 23,000 will come back home by September 2012.
"Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the name of Taliban ousted regime) once again wants to make it clear that the solution for the Afghan crisis lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately and until this does not happen, our armed struggle will increase from day to day," the statement emphasized.
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Tough time ahead of Afghan
forces as U.S. begins troops pull out
By Abdul Haleem, Zhang Jianhuaforces as U.S. begins troops pull out
KABUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The decision of U.S. President Barack Obama to begin troops' drawdown in Afghanistan within weeks will add to the burden of new brand but fledgling Afghan security forces, local analysts believe.
According to Afghans, the time to withdraw U.S. and allied troops from the militancy-plagued Afghanistan is not ripe as Taliban-led militancy is almost in its peak and Taliban fighters by carrying out suicide attacks and roadside bombings often claim the life of civilians and security forces.
"The time is not ripe for the troops withdrawal from Afghanistan because the Afghan national security forces are not enough capable to tackle with the security situation independently, " political analyst and human rights activist Qasim Akhgar maintained.
Obama announced Wednesday night to take back 10,000 of his forces from Afghanistan this year and another 23,000 troops will be departed home in 2012.
The major decision is announced amid increasing Taliban-led militancy in Afghanistan.
In the first phase, as per schedule the security of seven cities in provinces including the capital city Kabul minus Sarobi - - a Taliban bastion 60 km east of Kabul city would be handed over to Afghan national security forces.
"Many Afghans believe that troops withdrawal at this stage when the Afghan national security force is not enough capable to defend country's boundaries would enable Taliban and terrorists to come back and at least create law and order problems," Akhgar observed
The strength of Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) at the moment is 297,000 which include some 166,000 army, 131,000 police and its strength would reach to 305,000 by October this year, according to officials.
However, the absence of capable airpower to support ground forces, according to observers, would negatively undermine the war on terror and stabilizing security process.
"In all wars, the airpower plays effective role to win, but unfortunately Afghanistan does not have it. We do not have jet fighters to pound terrorists' hideouts," Nazari Pariani, editor-in- chief of a local newspaper Daily Mandegar, pointed out.
Meantime, Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said Wednesday, "We are confident that ANSF is enough capable to ensure security for the country."
However, he warned the transition process will be a difficult task and there would be some tough battles, suicide bombings and insurgents' attacks all over the country in coming weeks and months.
Taliban outfit fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops in a sharp reaction downplayed President Obama's decision and vowed to continue war till the complete pull out for foreign forces from Afghanistan.
"Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the name of Taliban ousted regime) once again wants to make it clear that the solution for the Afghan crisis lies in the full withdrawal of all foreign troops immediately," a statement sent to media said.
Keeping in mind the Taliban inflexibility and NATO-led forces failure to curb insurgency in Afghanistan, handing over security responsibility to Afghan forces in such a critical stage wherein the national government is largely dependent on foreign aid and the national army is poor equipped would prove challenging, observers believe.
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British PM welcomes U.S.
troop reduction in Afghanistan
LONDON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday welcomed the U.S. decision to withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year.troop reduction in Afghanistan
U.S. President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal Wednesday night, saying a further 23,000 would leave by the end of September 2012. There are currently around 90,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Responding to the announcement, Cameron said: "I have spoken with President Obama and welcome his announcement to draw down the U.S. troop surge from Afghanistan."
He said the surge by the U.S. and international partners, supported by an increase in the number of Afghan army and police, had reversed the momentum of the insurgency and created the right conditions to start transfering responsibility for security to the Afghans from July.
"We will keep UK force levels in Afghanistan under constant review. I have already said there will be no UK troops in combat roles in Afghanistan by 2015 and, where conditions on the ground allow, it is right that we bring troops home sooner," Cameron said.
"We remain side by side with Afghanistan and our international partners to achieve a military and political solution in Afghanistan that will allow the Afghan people take full responsibility for their own sovereignty and national security," he said.
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U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
matches Danish plans: Foreign Minister
COPENHAGEN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. decision to cut troop levels in Afghanistan was consistent with Denmark's own security plans in the country, Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen said Thursday.matches Danish plans: Foreign Minister
The minister was reacting to U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement Wednesday that the U.S. would begin a gradual troop withdrawal in 2011-2012.
"President Obama's announcement is completely in line with the Danish Helmand Plan (2011-2012), which charts the course for Danish efforts in Afghanistan next year," Espersen said in a media statement.
She said the U.S. and the international community had deployed extra troops in Afghanistan last year with the aim of reenergising the military effort and creating conditions for a gradual transfer of security responsibility to Afghan security forces. The extra forces had "acheived good results," she said.
The statement said the Danish troop reduction would be carried out from among the additional forces deployed during the 2010 surge.
Earlier, in a televised address from the White House, Obama said, "Starting next month, we will be able to remove 10,000 of our troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year. And we will bring home a total of 33,000 troops by next summer."
U.S. troops would continue coming home "at a steady pace" as Afghan security forces took the lead, with the U.S. combat mission transitioning to a support mission, he said.
Espersen noted that, as international troops left, efforts to train Afghan forces would be increased.
"The plan now is that the Afghans take over full responsibility for security by the end of 2014," she said in the statement. < However, pressure on the hard-line Taliban extremists would continue to be maintained by international and Afghan forces, she said.
Espersen said strategic areas, such as Helmand and Kandahar, previously held by the Taliban, were now under control of Afghan security forces in cooperation with international forces.
"We also see the first signs that the Taliban is not so dismissive of a political solution, as it was before," she said.
Denmark has had forces in Afghanistan since 2002, where they are part of the International Security Assistance Force, a multinational peacekeeping body under NATO command.
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